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Run ExpressionEngine on Docker

What is ExpressionEngine?​

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, template-driven CMS originally built by EllisLab, popular for content-heavy sites that need highly custom data structures (its "channels" and custom fields go beyond a typical blog-post model). It went open source under the Apache 2.0 license in 2018 and its core is free; an optional paid "Pro" edition adds extra features on top. It is a plain PHP application backed by a MySQL (or MariaDB) database, served through a web server.

Why run ExpressionEngine in Docker?​

Docker packages each of those pieces (NGINX, PHP-FPM, MySQL) into isolated containers that run the same on every machine. Instead of installing PHP and MySQL onto your laptop, where versions collide between sites and "works on my machine" starts, you run disposable containers that mirror production and vanish cleanly when you delete them. One site can run PHP 8.3 while another stays on an older version, on the same computer, with nothing installed globally.

The catch: wiring those containers together yourself (base images, PHP extensions, networking, permissions) is a week of fiddly Docker work. That is exactly what Laradock removes.

Why Laradock is the best fit for ExpressionEngine​

ExpressionEngine has no official Docker image or first-party runtime of its own, so a ready-made, no-lock-in environment matters even more. Here is why Laradock is the best fit:

  • You are never locked into one ecosystem. Laradock is framework-agnostic. Run ExpressionEngine today, add a Laravel API, a WordPress site, or a plain PHP script beside it tomorrow, all in the same environment with the same commands.
  • Far more flexibility. 100+ ready services and any PHP version from 5.6 to 8.5, so an older ExpressionEngine install and a fresh one each get exactly the runtime they need.
  • Nothing is hidden and you own everything. No generated files, no magic, no wrapper binary between you and Docker. Every Dockerfile and compose file is right there for you to read and edit.
  • Nothing new to learn. What you use is plain docker compose, knowledge that transfers straight to production. Our CLI is an optional nicety, never a requirement.

Concretely, for ExpressionEngine it gives you a production-style NGINX + PHP-FPM stack, MySQL/MariaDB already wired, and a workspace container with git and Composer installed for any add-ons that need it.

Run ExpressionEngine on Docker with Laradock​

1. Add Laradock to your project​

cd my-expressionengine-site
git clone https://github.com/laradock/laradock.git
cd laradock && cp .env.example .env

(No ExpressionEngine files yet? Clone Laradock first, then download ExpressionEngine from the workspace container in the next steps.)

2. Pick the services your site needs​

ExpressionEngine needs a web server and a database. The web server pulls in PHP-FPM automatically:

docker compose up -d nginx mysql workspace

Prefer MariaDB over MySQL? Swap the name: docker compose up -d nginx mariadb workspace. The full catalog is here.

Prefer to be asked? The optional CLI walks you through the choices: ./laradock setup, then ./laradock up. It prints every real command it runs.

3. Point ExpressionEngine at the containers​

ExpressionEngine's browser installer writes the database connection into system/user/config/config.php for you. Fill the installer form with the service name as the host:

Database hostname: mysql
Database name: default
Database username: default
Database password: secret

The default database, user and password live in mysql/defaults.env; override any of them by adding the line to Laradock's .env (it always wins).

4. Install and run your site​

Download ExpressionEngine into the workspace container, then finish setup in your browser:

docker compose exec workspace bash
git clone https://github.com/ExpressionEngine/ExpressionEngine.git .   # only if you have no EE files yet

Open http://localhost/admin.php and run the ExpressionEngine installer. That is a full ExpressionEngine site running on Docker.

Change the PHP version anytime​

This is where a native install hurts and Laradock shines. Set the version in Laradock's .env and rebuild:

PHP_VERSION=8.1
docker compose build php-fpm workspace

ExpressionEngine supports PHP 7.2.5 and newer, with current releases fully supporting PHP 8.3, so a legacy install and a brand-new one can run side by side on different PHP versions, each isolated, none of it installed on your machine.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Do I need to install PHP or MySQL to run ExpressionEngine with Laradock?​

No. Everything lives inside the containers. PHP, the web server and MySQL are all provided; you never install them on your host.

Which services should I start for a typical ExpressionEngine site?​

nginx mysql workspace covers most sites: web server, database, and a shell. Swap mysql for mariadb if you prefer.

Is ExpressionEngine free to use in production?​

The core is free and open source (Apache 2.0) since 2018. An optional paid "Pro" edition exists for extra features; check ExpressionEngine's own licensing page for what it covers before you rely on it. Laradock only handles the runtime, not the licensing.

Can I run multiple ExpressionEngine sites on different PHP versions?​

Yes. Give each its own Laradock with a unique COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME and DATA_PATH_HOST, set a different PHP_VERSION in each, and they run independently on the same machine.

Is this the same Docker setup I would use in production?​

The containers are production-style (real NGINX + PHP-FPM), so it is far closer to production than a native install. See Prepare Laradock for Production for the hardening steps.

Comparing environments? See the full Laradock vs Others breakdown. Ready to start? Getting Started takes about five minutes.